Premier Urges Support For N.S.-P.E.I. Ferry Service
PREMIER'S OFFICE--Premier Urges Support For N.S.-P.E.I. Ferry Service
Premier John Hamm is calling on Prime Minister Paul Martin to step in to prevent reductions in the vital ferry service between Caribou, Pictou Co., and Wood Islands, P.E.I.
In a letter sent today, March 10, Premier Hamm told the prime minister any reduction would have "a serious, negative impact on tourism and commerce in eastern Nova Scotia."
Recent reports have suggested that Transport Canada may cut hundreds of thousands of dollars in financial support from the service. In addition, annual drydock funding would be eliminated for one of the two vessels in 2008.
The premier called on Ottawa to maintain its current annual subsidy (about $4.8 million), commit to continued annual drydock funding, and agree to a multi-year contract with Northumberland Ferries to provide stability.
"The result of these combined cuts will likely be the removal of one ferry from the service and the shortening of the season of operation," said Premier Hamm. "My fear, and that of many Nova Scotians and Islanders, is that weakening the link, through a lessening of funds and perhaps the loss of one of two ferries, will eventually lead to an uncompetitive schedule and then the complete abandonment of this historic ferry service by both users and our federal government."
Premier Hamm said Caribou is the second busiest road-entry point to the province and stressed that the Nova Scotia-P.E.I. ferry service remains a popular alternative to the fixed link for businesses and tourists. He said the Confederation Bridge was built to replace the former service between Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, not the Nova Scotia to P.E.I. link.
"This is an historic link," Premier Hamm said in his letter. "Even the Northumberland Ferries website notes that it is an experience whereby you can 'sail across like the Fathers of Confederation did in 1864.'
"As this is a vital transportation link from one of Canada's provinces to another, on behalf of the people of Nova Scotia, I ask for a commitment from your government to maintain the current level of subsidies to support the ferry's existing standard of service, as well as a multi-year contract to provide stability," wrote the premier.